This is the area with all the challenge entries. It created a lot of interest. Some of the public ( not the entrants ) got very heated about the judge's comments so Viv took them down. Mine was not amongst the winners. My favourite got 2nd so I was glad about that.

This was Karen's winning entry.

Julia's 2nd placing. ( fabulous colours and bead work )

Bev was robbed of a place as the judge didn't like the background. ( they were very realistic orchids with dangling leaves.

There is lots more I could say about the challenge; the pros and cons; but I won't.
All in all it was a great exhibition and the tidying up was rapid with plenty of helpers.
I do have more quilt photos but you might be getting tired of them now and I have shown the ones that appealed to me.Today it is back to normal duties for me, washing cause it is fine and later orchard work continues and there is still plenty to clean up after such a stormy week.I almost forgot to say how interesting it was to have several people hunt me out to say they read my blog and wanted to meet me. Very encouraging...it was lovely to meet you ladies.

This is the first quilt Dorothy has ever exhibited. It is lovely; the use of colour was delightful.

Lynda's quilt. The quilt was more cream than it shows here.

Ngaire's circles were bright and pleasing. Because I don't use a filter on my camera the creams and whites all look fawn ( sorry ).

Viv's Storm at Sea was for her husband's birthday.

Some of you might recognise this quilt from when I was making it. It looked better here amongst all the others than I thought it would.

The green in this was actually much more vibrant than it shows here.

Sandra's quilt was all lovely soft pastels.The next post will have lots of wall hangings, bags and the challenge. It's all going well so far and we hope for a big crowd today. We know of a bus load coming today, but it's wet so hope lots of others turn out too.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

High winds, rain, hail and thunderstorms have been thrashing most of NZ. The garden is being trashed and limbs are flying off trees. Our 4 flowering cherries are just starting to blossom so might be spoilt before they are fully out.Yesterday we were without power from 3.30 till 8.30 so cooked dinner on the wood fire and ate by candle light. I hand sewed for a while cause without a machine or an iron tasks are limited. (without the computer too.) When the light fades it is even more limiting, so we played scrabble by candle light. Today it is still very windy with gusty showers; I got caught in one half an hour ago. It's too windy for an umbrella.Things I have got done.* There is just a row and a half left to finish my blue and yellow lattice hand work. ( it is now going to be a large cushion cover rather that a table runner. )* I turned out my fabric cupboard and found a few move black and white pieces of fabric so made a further bento box block.

Each block needs a 5 " centre; and 29" strip of 2.5"for the first round and a 45 by 2.5" strip for the third round. I suppose I could join fabric but would rather not.

I'm off now to press what I have done and iron out some fabric for the edging and backing of the blue and yellow top, before the power goes off again.

I hope others in NZ are finding inside things to do as the foul weather is everywhere.

Friday, September 17, 2010

I have been making Orange and Date muffins, this morning. This is a good recipe if you have lots of oranges ( or limes ) that need using. It is also a good way to make one orange go a long way.You require a kitchen whiz or similar.

Turn the oven on to 200 degrees C and then grease a 12 ( large) muffin hole tray.

Whiz 110grams of butter and 1/2 a cup of sugar till blended then add 1 large egg.

Wash your large orange and cut into quarters; take out any pips. Put the orange pieces, skin, pith and all into the whiz and chop till blended.

Add 1/2 cup of chopped dates and whiz till just mixed in.

In another large bowl sift 1 1/2 cups of flour; 2 tsps of baking powder and 1 tsp of baking soda.

Add the contents of the whiz to the dry ingredients and add 1 cup of milk.

Stir to just mix in then divide the mixture between the 12 muffin tins.

8. Cook for 20 minutes then cool for 3 minutes before removing from the tins.

Tip: to make sure the muffins come out easily run a knife around the edge of each cooked muffin them twist sideways till it will turn. Gently pull upwards only when free - that way muffins don't break.

These are moist and freeze well. Sometimes I add chopped walnuts instead of dates.( crystyllized ginger might be nice too )I once made this mixture as a loaf - it took longer to cook but was successful.

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I have just seen the funniest sight. The hedge cutter arriving, driving up the driveway with his big tractor with the blades mounted towing his van, towing a trailer with spare bldes fuel etc. Looked like a travelling circus. ( that means lots of noise for the next day or so as he trims all the hedges around the perimetre of the orchard. )

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mrechants at our Exhibition. Referring to yesterday's post. One day on I still like it and think my plan will be : If I can find some more interesting black and white fabrics, maybe a jelly roll; where the colours are distinctly blackish or whitish ( half and half doesn't work like checked fabric or stripes ) I will proceed to make a full sized quilt top. I didn't really want to buy more fabric but if I can see just what I want I will.So that involves some patience on my part - till next weekend when I will visit the merchants at our Exhibition.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Having completed all my entries for next weeks exhibition I didn't know what I wanted to tackle next. I really didn't. So I made another cushion cover. Heartly sick of them now. I decided to experiment with some Bento Box blocks. I haven't done them before. So far I have just made 4 large blocks. I need to decide if that will be it and make them into a table mat/ runner for the large coffee table in the lounge ( needs a new one ) or do I want to continue on and make something larger. As 2 of the lounge suites are black leather I decide on black and white with just a touch of colour.

Here are the 4 blocks un cut. The top photo shows them cut into quarters . I am playing with the arrangement of the parts.

This is the back of a block with all the seams pressed outwards. I started with a 5 " square and have surrounded it with 2.5 " strips. Pressing and trimmimg at each stage is essential. After one round it measures 9" square and 13" after the second round.

It seemed to take more fabric than I imagined. I like the idea so will look at it for a while to decide my next move.

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I have gradually been easing myself back into some orchard work, increasing the time each day to give my neck a chance to adjust to all the looking up. Today so far has been too wet..

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Congratulations to Nina in USA who doesn't have a blog. She asked me for the instructions to make a felt embroidered ball, so I sent them to her. She has just completed her ball but was hampered a bit by the quality of the felt. It pilled while she was working it.( Acryllic felt I think ) She doesn't want to make another one she says. I am pleased that someone actually got on and made a ball after I gave them the info. Well done Nina!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

The bond, the friendship and the generous spirit of my fellow P and Q members always brings a smile to my face. Some of the members of the P and Q group I belong to knew I wanted to see the quilts on display in Hamilton, and that I probably wasn't going to get there this year, so they sent me this morning photos they took of the quilts they especially liked. I now have a folder with 50 photos to drool over. Thank you my friends.Yesterday we had our usual club day and even though lots of ladies were in Hamilton we had a good turn out of over 30 members. Our 2 special ladies who are currently having Chemo were there with their pretty hats. They are so brave and were in danger of being over hugged. When most ladies had gone home I got the few left to do a "quilt hold up, "( for our records ) of all the charity quilts that had been donated to give to the Homes of Hope in Tauranga. There were 20 quilts and as there are currently 16 children in 3 homes that is a good number to hand out. Here 3 of us are later yesterday handing over the quilts.

Below are all the quilts. Sorry about the legs, but the quilts were all different sizes and my human hangers had legs.

We now have some space in our cupboard at the club rooms.

Our exhibition is just 2 weeks away. Last year you may remember we had only aprons on the sales table, that all got sold very rapidly. This year we are selling only cushion covers.We have almost 80 ready. Another good effort, by mostly the same ladies.

About Me

Quilting is a wonderful hobby for me. I love the beautiful fabric and colours - my artistic side comes alive.
I have lived in Te Puna near Tauranga since 1978, where my husband ( R ) and I own a small orchard where we grow Kiwifruit and Avocados for export. We have a large garden and grow many other fruit, nuts and vegetables. When I was young I was a teacher and particularly liked teaching art. I have also worked in the Kiwifruit Industry in Quality Control and Auditing. I love to create and am currently passionate about patchwork and quilting. I sew by hand and using my Bernina Aurora 440 machine.
* All photos enlarge by clicking. * PLEASE do not use my photos or words without my permission.